Conveyer flight



June 10, 1930. G. ERDMAN CONVEYER FLIGHT Filed June 21. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Qieoryeli'rabmm ATTO RN EYS June 10, 1930.

I G. ERDMAN CONVEYER FLIGHT Filed June 21. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES earner caries.

GEORGE IJRDMAN, OF HUDSON, NEJT YQRK, ASSIGIIOB T0 GIFFORD-VTOOD COMPANYOF HUDSON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATEOIKT OF NEW YORK ooNvnYnn FLIGHTApplication filed June 21, 1928.

This invention relates to conveyor flights and, among other objects,aims to provide an improved flight adapted to collapse when subjected toside strains.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation of a conveyor provided with a flight embodyingthe invention; 7 Fig. 2 is an end View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improved flight and drawn on a largerscale;

Fig. 4; is a sectional view taken on the line l-4 of Fig. 3; and v Fig.5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

The herein described flight is particularly adapted to be used in icemanufacturing plants, for example, where cakes of ice are delivered froma slat conveyer moving in one direction to an overhead conveyer movingat an angle thereto.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a slat conveyer10 adapted to deliver cakes of ice 11 to a point directly beneath anoverhead conveyer 12 which is mounted on the usual sprockets and, in thepresent instance, travels at right angles to the conveyer 10. Suitableautomatic switches (not shown) are provided to prevent the cakes frompassing beyond the longitudinal axis of the overhead conveyer. Herein,the conveyer chain 12 is shown as being slidably supported between thesprockets on the flanges of angle irons 13 and 14: which form guides forthe chain and prevent it from sagging. When the ice cake is beneath theconveyer 12, it is adapted to be pushed along on a skid or trackwaybeneath said conveyer by a dependingflight which is fast upon conveyerchain 12 and extends downwardly between the flanges of the lower guides14: to a point cake. r

It sometimes happens that the two conveyers are out of synchronism, thatis, one of the flights of the overhead conveyer may be in the path ofthe ice cake as it is being moved into position beneath said conveyer bythe slat conveyer 10. At such a time, the cake would strike the side ofthe flight, which would probably damage the flight and below the top ofthe ice Serial No. 287,129.

chip the ice. If the flight survived the blow, the cake would be tippedover and would have to be righted before operation could proceed. Thepresent invention overcomes these defects by providing improved flights15 on the overhead conveyer which are adapted to swing out of the wayupon being struck side blow by the ice cake, and to move backautomatically to normal position again.

Herein, each of the flights 15 is shown as comprising a substantiallyinverted U shaped block 16 forming one of the links of the chain '12.See Fig. 3. These flights may be spaced any distance apart as conditionsrequire. The lower ends of the side arms 17 are provided with alignedlongitudinal apertures 18 forming bearings for a shaft 19 which extendstherethrough and is held in place by cotterpins 20 or the like.

'ltockably mounted on the shaft 19 is a pusher ineinber'or plate 21, thelower end of which extends below the top of the ice cake so that itsfront face 22 will engage the cake, while the upper end of the rear facebears against theinner face of one of the arms 17. The lower end of theplate is somewhat wider than the upper end so as to present asubstantial bearing surface to engage the ice cake without danger ofchipping it.

In order to retain the plate 21 in the position shown relative to theblock 16, the upper rear face of the plate is providd with a V shapedprojection 23 which is held seated in a corresponding notch 2a in theinner face of the adjacent arinll' by an expansile coiled spring 25mounted on the shaft 19 between the front face of the plate and theother arm 17, the plate being'of less width than the distance betweenthe When the pl 6 rocked on the shaft when struck and thus I permit thecake to pass beneath its lower edge. The plate will then slide along ontop of the cake until it reaches the end of the cake where it will bereturned to its normal position, while the cake will be pushed by thenext flight.

To prevent exces ve wear to the parts due to too much swinging of theplate when returned to normal position, the upper end of the plate isprovided with a central upding long" 1 ".1 lug 26 which engages w: ashoulder QLextending downwardly from the block 16 between the side arms1?. This shoulder is, course, on the side opposite to the approachingice cake, as not to interfere with th. swinging of the plate when thesame time to form a posi- .e 'ilate when it is returned to 1 a notch inthe inner face of as ch arm, the loci: and plate may be reversedrelative to each other so that the flight may be used on a cents ormoving in eith er direction or when the ice is approaching the conveyorfrom either side. A suitable recess 28 ma be provided in the bottom ofeach of the notches 24 to form a seat for the end of the spring, ifdesired.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that an improvedconveyer flight has neon provided which will collapse following a sideblow, so as to prevent any damage to the flight or to the object bywhich it is struck. Further, it is simple in construction andinexpensive to manufacture and bemade reversible, can he used in variousmetal ations.

Gbviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment there of herein shown and described.

l l hat is claimed is 1. In combination with a eonveyer chain, link; adepending bearing portion at each end of the link; a shaft arrangedlongitudinally of the link and in the hearings; a pusher plate rockablymounted on the shaft and extending below the bearings; a V-shapedprojection on the rear face of the plate; one inner face of the hearingshaving a corresponding V-shaped notch to form a seat for the projection;and a coiled spring on the shaft between the front of the plate and theadjacent bearing to hold the V-shaped projection normally in its notch.

2. A conveyer chain link comprising a U- -haped block; a longitudinalshaft carried by the block; a pusher plate pivotally mounted on theblock; means to retain the plate in fixed relation to the block but topermit the plate to swing on the shaft when struck on Lhe side; a lug onthe top of the plate; and a shoulder on the block to form a positivestop for the plate when in normal position.

3. In combination with a conveyer chain, a link; a bearing each end ofthe link; a shaft arranged longitudinally of the link and in thebearings; a pusher plate rockahly mounted on the shaft and extendingbelow the bearings; a V-shaped projection on the rear end of the plate;each of the inner faces of the bearings having a V-shaped notch to formseats for the projection and permit the plate to be reversed relative tothe block; an expansible coiled spring on the shaft between the front ofthe plate and the adjacent hearing; a lug on top of the plate; and ashoulder on one side of the block engageable by the lug to limit therocking of the plate in one direction.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature.

GEORGE ERDMAN.

